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more command in Linux with Examples

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025

The 'more' command in Linux is a useful tool for viewing text files in the command prompt, particularly when dealing with large files like log files. It displays the content one screen at a time, allowing users to scroll through the text easily. This command is especially handy for reviewing long outputs and can be combined with other commands using pipes.

Here, we’ll explore the various functionalities of the more command, including its syntax, options, and practical examples.

The 'more' command is a basic pager program used in Unix-like systems to view text files in the command line interface. It provides a convenient way to navigate through files one screenful at a time, making it ideal for reading lengthy files without overwhelming the terminal with all the content at once.

more [-options] [-num] [+/pattern] [+linenum] [file_name]

where,

• [-options]: any option that you want to use in order to change the way the file is displayed. Choose any one from the followings: ('-d', '-l', '-f', '-p', '-c', '-s', '-u')
• [-num]: type the number of lines that you want to display per screen.
• [+/pattern]: replace the pattern with any string that you want to find in the text file.
• [+linenum]: use the line number from where you want to start displaying the text content.
• [file_name]: name of the file containing the text that you want to display on the screen.

While viewing text files with 'more', you can use the following controls for navigation:

• Enter key: Scrolls down one line at a time.
• Space bar: Moves to the next page or screen.
• 'b' key: Goes back one page.
• 'q' key: Quits the more command and exits the view.

Use this command in order to help the user to navigate.

• It displays "[Press space to continue, 'q' to quit.]" and,
• Displays "[Press 'h' for instructions.]" when wrong key is pressed.

Example:

more -d sample.txt

Displays long lines without wrapping them, showing them as they are in the file. This option is useful when the exact formatting of text is important.

Example:

more -f sample.txt

Clears the screen before displaying the next page, making the reading experience cleaner by removing previously shown content.

Example:

more -p sample.txt

Overlaps the new text over the old text on the same screen space, providing a continuous reading flow without clearing the screen.

Example:

more -c sample.txt

Compresses multiple blank lines into a single blank line, making large documents more concise and easier to read.

Example:

more -s sample.txt

Removes underlined characters, which can be useful when viewing text files with special formatting that is not needed for content comprehension.

Example:

more -u sample.txt

This option is used to search the string inside your text document. You can view all the instances by navigating through the result.

Example:

more +/reset sample.txt

Displays the content starting from the specified line number, useful when you want to skip over the beginning of a file

Example:

more +30 sample.txt

We use more command after a pipe to see long outputs. For example, seeing log files, etc.

cat a.txt | more

The 'more' command in Linux is a simple yet powerful tool that significantly enhances the user experience when viewing and navigating through large text files. With its various options and seamless integration with other commands, mastering the 'more' command can greatly improve your efficiency in managing text files within the command line environment.

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